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Authorities seek missing children, mother

by KEITH KINNAIRD
News editor | August 28, 2020 1:00 AM

SANDPOINT — The Bonner County Sheriff's Office put out an alert Thursday for a woman and her two biological children who went missing during a custodial visit.

Sheriff's officials said Laila Marie Hiza picked up her children in Sandpoint for a visit from their custodial guardian and have not returned home.

Hiza has been known to frequent the Post Falls area, but may have traveled to Oregon, the sheriff's office said in a press release. Hiza was last seen driving a 1990s-era Ford Ranger pickup truck.

Those with information about Hiza's whereabouts are asked to call Bonner Dispatch at 208-265-5525.

Hiza, 31, stands 5 feet four inches and weighs 115 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes.

Aedrian Hiza is a 7-year-old boy who is 3 feet, 10 inches tall. He weighs 60 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes.

Asher Hiza is a 3-year-old boy who is 2 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs 40 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

Laila Hiza is also the subject of a no-bond, nationwide arrest warrant for allegedly violating her probation in a felony insurance fraud case in Kootenai County which dates back to 2017, court records show.

Laila Hiza backed her vehicle into a Honda motorcycle and lacked insurance at the time, according to a probable cause affidavit. She obtained a policy after the fact and allegedly conspired with the motorcycle to claim the collision occurred after the policy was obtained, court records show.

Insurance investigators, however, found posts to social media which contained digital images taken by the motorcycle's owner that the collision occurred before Laila Hiza obtained the policy, a probable cause affidavit said.

Laila Hiza pleaded guilty to one count of insurance fraud as part of a plea agreement and was sentenced to a suspended prison term of one to three years and placed on probation for two years, court documents indicate.

The Idaho Department of Correction moved for a bench warrant earlier this month after she allegedly violated the terms of her probation by absconding from supervision.

"Ms. Hiza has a history of absconding supervision and leaving the state without permission to Oregon," Tori Tickle, a senior probation officer, said in a motion for a bench warrant.

The warrant was issued by 1st District Judge Lansing Haynes on Aug. 26, records show.

Court records further show that a Bonner County Sheriff's deputy attempted to conduct a welfare check on Aug. 11, but Laila Hiza or her children could not be located. Her childrens' legal guardian told sheriff's officials that Laila Hiza removed the children from her home on that date and may have been headed to Kentucky or Florida, according to court documents.